Apparatus and method for molding concrete vaults and the like



Jan. 9, 1951 P. D! STEFANO 2,537,447

APPARATUS AND METHOD FDR MOLDING CONCRETE VAULTS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 29, 1948 m A m m mm .mm 8 m M w w QM 4n! Y .m vm sfiwv NE mm wm o 0 Ex NE Jan. 9, 1951 P. m STEFANO APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MOLDING CONCRETE VAULTS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 29, 1948 Ja 1 P DI'STEFANO 2,537,447

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MOLDING CONCRETE VAULTSAND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Peter 0/ Stefano INVENTOR.

Jan. 9, 1 951 P. STEFANO 2,537,447

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MOLDING CONCRETE VAULTS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29, 1948 Sheets-Sheet 4 I04 If L 42 I .92 z \/?0 I [00 2 Pe/er 0/ Stefano INVENTOR.

BY F /'g. 6 gym;

Jan. 9, 1951 P DI STEFANO 2,537,447

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MOLDING CONCRETE VAULTS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Pe/er Di Stefano kfiwmxmmwmm INVENTOR.

F '9- 9 BY WW ZQ Patented Jan. 9, 1951 1 AFFARA'Ea -JS AND METHOD FOR -MOLDING GUNCRETE VAULTS AND THE LIKE.

Peter Di Stefano, Amawalk, N; Y. Application September 29, 1948, Serial No; 51,726-

ii Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for casting massive structures and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved method and apparatus for casting burial vaults from concrete.

Another important object of. the present invention is to provide an apparatus for casting massive concrete structures such as burial vaults including inner and outer mold members, and embodying novel and improved means for tamping, agitating and vibrating the concrete mate rial. poured between the inner and outer mold member to efiect a setting of the concrete in a shorter period of time than was heretofore possible.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for casting concrete vaults including a plurality of outer mold members that are fixed to a. supporting frame, and means for raising a plurality of inner mold members relative to the outer mold members for casting a structure between the inner and outer mold members and for lowering the inner mold members and the cast structures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for casting. concrete structures including inner andouter mold mem bers, and novel and improved means for supplying a concrete mixture between the inner and outer mold members.

Another object of'the present invention is tov provide a machine for casting concrete burial vaults including a group of inner and outer molds that will simultaneously form the upper and lower halves of a burial vault.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for casting concrete vaults wherein the parts of the concrete vaults are cast in halves thus saving time and expense since the halves will be cured in approximately between eight and fifteen hours as against the present method requiring seven days.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for casting concrete vaults,

wherein the vault will be formed in two sectionswhich are lighter than the present type now being produced which is much heavier and r quires more help in lifting.

A still further aim of the present inventionis to provide an apparatus for casting burialvaults that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, neat and attractive in appearance, small and compact in structure, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the-same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and. claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming. part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout,.and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan View of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational' view of the. present invention and showing the trays disposed above the outer mold members;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figurev 1, and with parts removed" therefrom to illustrate the closure for the mixing hopper, and showing the" trays disposed over the outer mold members;

Figure 4' is a diagrammaticview showing the hydraulic system used' in conjunction with the present invention;

Figure 5 is a schematic view illustrating. the electrical circuit used in conjunctionwiththe present invention;

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of Figure 2 taken substantially in the direction of arrow numbered 6 thereof;

Figure 7-' is an enlargediverticali sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 1-1 of 6; a

Figure B'is a group perspective view showing one type of' vault that is cast withthe apparatus of the present invention; A

Figure 9'is a transverse verticalsectional view of one type of vault constructed by the present invention;

Figure 10" is a fragmentary end viewof the: present invention ShOWil'lg, the tray applied to the outer mold member for forming an upper vault half having a rounded portion; and,

Figure 11 is an end' view oi'another type-of vault that is constructed by the use of the present invention. and'with parts broken away for showing the manner in which the upper and lower sections are sealed.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferredembodiment of the present invention, the numeral It represents a supporting frame including. a forward pair of tubular posts li a rear pair of posts. it and a pair ofintermediate posts l6.

Slidably engaging theforwardpair ofposts I 2 and the intermediate pair of posts [t -are ICOIIQJZ'S or rings I8to each of which-there is fixed a supporting arm 2% having bifurcated terminals 2-2. The bifurcated terminals 22 of thearms Ell-are fixed by welding orthe like to the outside cor-- nerstfi ofa pair of spacedparallel; substantially rectangular outer mold-members 2t and 28 that are connected by webs -or cross plates 30: The end walls and side walls of the outer mold mem-- bers 26 and Z a-slope inwardly and upwardly and the said outer mold'members. are open at their upper and lower portions. i

no Upper and'lower holding'ringsnorcollars-32--and 3 34 are removably secured to the forward and intermediate posts I2 and I8 by pins 35 that extend through aligned apertures 38 provided in the posts I2 and I5 and rings 32 and 84, and resilient washers or rings 4% are disposed between the rings I8 and the collars 32 and 34.

A substantially rectangular horizontally disposed base plate 42 is fixed to the rear posts I4 and intermediate posts it through the medium of sleeves 44 that engage the posts l4 and arms 46 having eye portions 88 that embrace the posts I5 and are secured thereto by holding pins 50.

An upper frame including cries-crossed braces 52 is provided at its ends with sockets 54 that receive and which are removably secured to the upper ends of the forward and intermediate posts I2 and It by any suitable means.

A transversely disposed channel member 56 is fixed to the upper frame 52 and is secured in any suitable manner, to the forward and upper portion of a hopper or mixing vat 58 that is divided into a pair of delivery compartments 88 and 62. The rear portion of the hopper 58 is supported by a pair of uprights 64 that are fixed to the base plate 42 and the hopper is thus supported above and spaced parallel to the base plate 42.

A cylinder 66 is removably secured to the base plate 42 by U-brackets or the like 88 and includes a reduced cylindrical extension 18 that slidably supports a piston rod 5'2. The outer end of the piston rod 12 is removably secured to the web portion of a substantially U-shaped plate 14 the lower leg 16 of which slidably engages the upper surface of the base plate 42. The upper leg I8 of the U-shaped plate 14 is elongated and supports a substantially rectangular closure plate 80 that is fixed thereto in any suitable manner. The side edges of the plate 38 slidably engage guide brackets 82 carried by the hopper 58 and normally closes the lower open end of the hopper. The rear transverse edge 84 of the closure plate 80 being flared upwardly to limit the forward sliding movement of closure plate 88 relative to the hopper.

The forward end of the piston rod 12 is fixed by welding or the like to the rear, inside corners 86 of a pair of spaced parallel trays 88 and 80 having downwardly and inwardly sloping walls. The trays 88 and 9e are open at their tops and bottoms.

' Longitudinal guide strips 82 are fixed to the outer longitudinal edges of the outer mold members 2 6 and 28 and guide the sliding movement of the trays 88 and 58. Further angle iron guide members 94'are fixed to the inner longitudinal edges of the outer molds 26 and 28 and also aid in guiding the sliding movement of the trays.

The trays 88 and 58 are connected and braced by a web or plate 88 so that the same will move together on the base plate 4-2 and over the outer molds 26 and 28. Suitable stops I88 fixed to the forward end walls of the outer molds and 28 limit the forward sliding movement of the trays so that the same will be disposed'over the outer mold members 26 and 28.

Slidably mounted on each of the forward posts I2 and the intermediate posts I5, is an upper sleeve I02 and a lower sleeve 84. Arms H16 are fixed to the lower sleeves I84 and support a central hub I08, and downwardly inclined braces IIU are fixed at their terminals to the upper sleeves and the hub I88 to further support the latter in a substantially vertical position.

The base portion of a cylinder II2 is fixed to the central portion of the upper frame 52 and 4 slidably supports a piston rod I I4 that is suitably secured in the central hub I88. A pair of substantially rectangular agitating frames H6 and I I8 are disposed below the arms I and are fixed to the arms I06 by hangers I28.

Suitably fixed to the arms I88 and depending therefrom, are the base portions of a pair 01 spaced parallel cylinders I22 and E24 that are disposed centrally over the outer mold members 25 and 28. Slidably carried by the cylinders I22 and I24 are piston rods I26 and 228 that support agitating and tamping plates I38 and I32 which are movable through rectangular openings in the frames H6 and H8.

A hydraulic press or cylinder I34 is anchored beneath the outer mold members 26 and 28, and includes a vertically movable piston rod I36 to which there is secured a vibratory mounting or support I38. A plurality of longitudinal spaced walls I40 rise from the support I38 and rotatably support two rows of spaced parallel conveyor rollers I42 and I44 that are disposed beneath the outer mold members 26 and 28 respectively.

Vertically adjustable stop rods I45 depend from the support I38 and limit the downward movement of the support relative to the outer mold members 26 and 28.

Bearings I48 depend from the support I38 and rotatably support a forward transverse shaft I50 and a rear transverse shaft I52 on which there is fixed a plurality of eccentric wheels or counterweights I54. Pulleys I56 and I58 are secured to the shaft I58 and I52 and are connected by an endless belt I68. A motor I62 supported by a mounting I64 beneath the support I38 includes a drive pulley I66 that is connected to a driven pulley I66 on the rear shaft I52 by an endless belt I18. As the shafts I58 and I52 are rotated the outer extremities of the counterweights I54 on the shaft 158 will be disposed downwardly when the counterweights I54 on the shaft I52 are disposed upwardly and vise versa to impart a rocking or vibratory movement to the support I38.

A pair of inner mold members I12 and I13 are removably supported on the respective rollers I42 and I44 and include substantially rectangular bottom walls or flanges I14 that will close the open bottoms of the outer mold members 28 and 28 when the inner mold members are raised to a position where they are embraced by the outer mold members. Adjacent the side edges of the bottom wall I14 of the mold member I13 there are convexed ribs that will form concaved recesses I16 in the side and end walls I18 of the lower half I88 of the present vault, and adjacent the edge of the bottom wall I14 of the inner mold member I12 there is provided a recess that will form convexed edges I82 on the side and end walls I84 of the upper half I55 of the present vault.

Tables 88 and I98 are supported forwardly and rearwardly of the support I38 and include groups of conveyor rollers I92 that lead to and from the rollers I42 and I44 so that the inner mold members may be moved to and from the support I48 in a convenient manner and comprise a conveying system.

The operation of the present invention is classified in steps which will be briefly noted as follows:

(A) The inner mold members I12 and I13 are first conveyed by the rollers I82 on the forward table I88 to the rollers I42 and I43;

(13) The piston I38 is raised so that the inner moldfmembers H2 and H3 will be embraced by: the outer mold members 26 and 28 with the bottom wa'lls I'M closing the open lower ends of the outer mold members 28 and 28 (C) The trays 88 and 88 are moved forwardly over the outer mold members 26 and 28 to dump a concrete mixture between the inner and outer mold members and is th n moved back where the same will be supported in the base plate 42;

(D) The motor I62 then started to vibrate thesupport E38 and the piston rods H8, l26 and I28 are-reciprocated to agitate and tamp the aggregate between the inner and outer mold memhas or the material on the upper walls of the inner mold members;

(E) The inner mold members i 12 and I13 and the'ca'st structures are then lowered with the piston rod. I36;.and,

(F) The inner mold members H2 and I73 and,

thecast structures are then moved on the rollers I82 to a discharge point.

In; order to accomplish the above operations, there is provided a hydraulic system which will now bedescribed and which is best illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings.

Leading from a suitable fluid pump I98, is a first conduit ltd having a plurality of branch conduits I86, I88, 263, 282 and 2% that are connected to the rear port 266 of the cylinder 66, the port 288 of the cylinder 53%, and the lower ports M8, M2 and 2M of the cylinders I22, I24 and H2. respectively. A second conduit 258 branches from the first conduit use and includes branch conduits 2E8, 228, 222, 22-3 and 226 that are connected to the forward port 228 of the cylinder 66, the conduit E85, and the upper ports 238; 232 and 23 3 of the cylinder I22, respectively.

A valve housing 235 is interposed each of the branch conduits I86 and 2 I8, i578 and 228, 288 and222, 282 and 22d, and 28 s and 226 respectively and rotatably support barrel type valves 286, 238; 248, 282 and 2% that control the cylinders 66,122, I2 land H2 in the order named. These valves each include a pair of arcuate ports 2G8 and 248 that communicate with the pair of conduitsconnected to each of the said housings.

A further valve housing 258 is interposed inthe conduit 256 and supports a spring urged valve 252 that normally closes the conduit 2I6. An adjustable plunger 284 is carried by the housing 258 for positioning of the valve 252 in the housingto-be actuated by a predetermined pressure acting upon the same to open the conduit 2 I 5.

A reservoir 256 is connected to the pump I83 by asupply line 258 so that when the pump is in operation, a fluid will be forced into the conduits I94 and 2I6 and hence the branch conduits leading therefrom.

A pressure gauge 288 is applied to the conduit I94 and will indicate the pressure in the said conduit.

The numeral 262 represents a panel that i suitably secured to one side of the frame It and which supports operating handles or pointers 264, 266, 268, 218 and 212 for the valves 236, 238, 248, 242,

and 244 respectively, when the handles are turned inone direction, as shown in Figure 2, the fluid will enter the cylinders 66, ltd, i242, I22 and H2, whereas when the same ar turned to the opposite direction fluid will not flow to the said cyl inders.

A:- switch,2'l4 is, carried by the panel 262 and controlsgthecircuit for the electric pump I93 and ai further: switch 218 on the panel controls-the I2 3 and H2.

circuit to -the electric motor I62 for the shafts also switch off and control the switches Z'M and' 218' to shut 01f the entire apparatus ata prede' termined time in case the attendant is not' present.

Obviously, it is not essential that the timing mechanism 278 be employed although theuse'of the same will provide a safety means which wouldadd to the emcientuse' of thepresent structure.

It should be noted, that the timerequiredfor vibrating and tamping the concrete mixture depends onthe types of sand and gravel employed and by varying the ratio of material the required time can be for one half or one minute.

The particular shape of the inner moldwill permit the concrete mixture applied about the same to be retained in its packed formwithout slipping thus eliminating the necessity ofhav-- ing to retain the outer mold about the inner mold and concretemixture during the settingof the concrete. in a steam room.

Theswitches or operating handles 268, 210 and 272 are next turned on and the piston rods I26, I28 and H2 will reciprocate to tamp'and agitate the concrete mixture between the side walls of the inner and outer mold members andthe concrete mixture on the upper walls of theinner mold members, and the switch. 216- is turned on to vibrate the support I38.

After the casket has been formed and properly processed, which takes approximately oneminute, the switch 214 is turned off and the piston rod I36 will move downwardly under the weight of the support I38, the inner mold -members and. the cast structures formed on'the inner mold members with the stopslfi limitingdownwardmovement of the piston I 86 and support-I38.

The. inner mold members and the cast-struc tures are then placedin a steam room forap-= proximately 8-15 hours and then the inner mold members are removed to produce the desired casket, ready for use.

. .New inner moldsare then onthe rollers peated. Figure: '11. illustrates the vault formed by the above; described method and the upper wall- 280' of. the. upper. half and the bottom wall- 282 of the lower half are both substantially flat.- I

In orderto construct a vault 283, as shown in- Figures Sand 9 Whose upper half 284 includes a dome or rounded portion 286, a frame 288' fixed tothe upper portion of one outermold, for

moved into-position I42 and M4 and the process-re-- examplemold member 26 and includes end walls The tray 88 is prohaving convexed edges 288. I vided with end walls 282'having convexed edges 294' that conform to the edges 298 and thusthe upper half 284'will have a rounded portion 286 the like comprising a frame including a pair of uprights, an outer mold supported by saidframe,"

said outer-mold being hollow and including openi upper and lower portions, a support, a lift mechanism for said support, an inner mold carried by said support and including a bottom wall for closing the lower open portion of said outer mold, a slidable tray, guide means for said tray, means for moving said tray to a position over said outer mold for depositing a concrete mixture between said inner and outer molds, and a reciprocating member slidable on said uprights for agitating the concrete mixture between said inner and outer molds.

2. An apparatus for casting concrete vaults and the like comprising a frame including a pair of uprights, a plurality of outer molds supported by said frame, said outer molds being hollow and including open upper and lower portions, a support, a lift mechanism for said support, a plurality of inner molds carried by said support and including bottom walls for closing the open lower portions of said outer molds, a plurality of slidable trays, guide means for said trays, means for moving said trays 'to a position over said outer molds for depositing a concrete mixture between said inner and outer molds, and a reciprocating member slidable on said uprights for agitating the concrete mixture between said inner and outer molds.

3. An apparatus for casting concrete vaults and the like comprising a frame including a pair of uprights, a plurality of outer molds supported by said frame, said outer molds being hollow and including open upper and lower portions, a support, a lift mechanism for said support, a plurality of inner molds carried by said support and including bottom walls for closing the open :p

lower portions of said outer molds, a base plate suported relative to said frame and substantially coplanar with the open upper portions of said outer molds, a. plurality of slidable trays having open bottoms normally closed by said base plate, means joining said trays, guides carried by the upper portions of said outer molds slidably receiving said trays, means for moving said trays into sliding engagement with said guides, stop means carried by said outer molds for limiting sliding movement of said trays in one direction to retain the trays above the outer molds, and means for agitating a molding material between said inner and outer molds.

4. An apparatus for casting concrete vaults and the like comprising a frame including a pair of uprights, a plurality of outer moids supported by said frame, said outer molds being hollow and including open upper and lower portion, a support, a lift mechanism for said support, a plurality of inner molds carried by said support and including bottom walls for closing the open lower portions of said outer molds, a base plate supported relative to said frame and substantially coplanar with the open upper portions of said outer molds, a plurality of slidable trays having open bottoms normally closed by said base plate, means joining said trays, guides carried by the upper portions of said outer molds slidably receiving said trays, means for moving said trays into sliding engagement with said guides, stop means carried by said outer molds for limiting sliding movement of said trays in one direction to retain the trays above the outer molds, a supporting framework slidably mounted on said uprights, means for reciprocating said supporting framework, means carried by said supporting framework for agitating a molding material between said inner and outer molds, and further means carried by said supporting framework for tarnping the molding material between said inner and outer molds.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said means carried by said framework for agitating a molding material between said inner and outer molds includes a plurality of substantially rectangular plates, each of said plates having central openings for receiving said inner molds.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said means for reciprocating said supporting framework includes a reciprocable plunger, and hydraulic pressure means for reciprocating said plunger.

7. The combination of claim 3 wherein said means for moving said trays includes a cylinder mounted on said base plate, a piston rod slidably carried by said cylinder and connected to said tray joining means, and means for reciprocating said piston rod.

8. The method of casting concrete structures by the use of inner and outer mold members which includes casting the structure of concrete between the inner and outer mold members, lowering the cast structure together with the inner mold member relative to the outer mold members, then conveying the inner mold members and the cast structures to a delivery point, and finally placing the cast structure and the inner mold member in a steam room for a predetermined period of time.

9. The method of casting concrete structures by the use of inner and outer mold members, which includes the pouring of concrete between the inner and outer mold members, vibrating the inner mold members, next agitating the concrete between the inner and outer mold members, then lowering the inner mold members together with the cast structure, finally conveying the inner mold members and the cast structures to a delivery point, and thereafter placing the cast structure and the inner mold member in a steam room for a predetermined curing period.

10. The method of casting concrete structures by the use of inner and outer mold members, which includes the steps of first conveying the inner mold members to a position beneath the outer mold members, raising the inner mold members, pouring concrete between the inner and outer mold members, then lowering the cast structures together with the inner mold members, finally conveying the inner mold members and the cast structure to a delivery point, and thereafter placing the cast structure and the inne mold member in a steam room for a predetermined curing period.

11. The method of claim 10 and the further step of vibrating the inner mold members during the step of agitating the concrete between the inner and outer mold members.

PETER DI STEFANO.

REFERENCES CETED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 965,003 Pauly July 19, 1910- 1,267,488 Wisner May 28, 1918 1,921,003 Romie Aug. 8, 1933 1,983,757 Hick Dec. 11, 1934 2,091,385 Trickey Aug. 31, 1937 2,193,847 Strong Mar. 19, 1940 2,396,999 George Mar. 19, 1946 2,437,003 Ruegg Mar. 2. 1948 

